Ice Plant

Delosperma or Ice Plant varieties comprise an extremely desirable group of rather small specimens with succulent like foliage and vivid flowers.

In many parts of the United States it is vastly under used but with hardiness zones ranging from zone 4 through 6.

Delosperma should find acceptance as border and ground cover choices.

Plant height varies from as little as one inch to about six inches with the mature width between four inches to as much as a rather robust thirty inches.

Specimens originally were collected in several parts of the world with notable ones originating in South Africa.

The cultivar Deleeuiae sports bright magenta flowers and was found at 12,000 feet in the mountains of Lesotho.

For those of you, and I must admit that I was one too, unfamiliar with Lesotho I found that it is a Kingdom completely surrounded by South Africa.

Deleeuiae is right at home when used as xeric ground cover on slopes.

Floral displays range from:

• purple-red
• yellow
• rose-pink
• bright magenta
• pink
• fuchsia
• to iridescent salmon-pink

Some forms are evergreen and thus provide interest throughout the year.